Portage schools finalist: Mark Bielang, Paw Paw superintendent

PAW PAW, MI -- Paw Paw Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bielang knows how it feels to start school as a English-language learner: Although born in Chicago, he only spoke Polish before he started kindergarten.

Bielang, who is one of three finalists for the job of Portage Public Schools superintendent, was born in 1952 to Polish immigrants who had their lives upended by World War II. Bielang's father was a member of the Polish army who spent much of the war in German prison camp; his mother also was put in detention during the war.

The couple met after the war while in adjoining facilities for refugees, and emigrated to America to start a new life. They initially settled in a Polish neighborhood in Chicago. "You didn't need to speak English" in that neighborhood, Bielang said. "I had to learn the language" when he started school.

Bielang's father had ideas of starting a mushroom farm, and the family moved to Bangor in Van Buren County. Bielang attended Bangor schools, and it was at Bangor High School that a teacher encouraged Bielang to attend college and consider teaching as a profession.

"I was really inspired by a high school teacher," Bielang said. "He really mentored me, saw potential that maybe I didn't see."

Bielang got his
teaching degree from Western Michigan University and eventually moved into
school administration, becoming principal of Ionia High School and then was
named Paw Paw superintendent in 1995.

Since then, he's immersed herself in the Paw Paw community,
pointing out all three of his children are Paw Paw High School graduates. Under his watch, the district has passed
three bond issues for new construction, including a new high school that opened
in 1997; continues to have a 15 percent
fund balance in its operating budget, and has solid record of academic achievement.

"We compare very favorably -- not only with districts with
similar demographics, but also with districts that have fewer challenges,"
Bielang said. "I'm real happy with how
our kids are performing."

Bielang said he's also proud of the district's labor relationships.
"I would describe my relationship with the union as very positive," he said. "Our
negotiations have not been contentious, and I think we've been able to have
fair and fiscally responsible contracts."

The key to his success, Bielang said, has been hiring the
right people and creating a "very effective" system of teamwork.

"The relationships that exist are very productive," he said.
"I really depend on them to do their work and it's my job to hold them
accountable, and that's the same relationship the board has with me."

Although Bielang has
spent 18 years in Paw Paw, he has spread his wings beyond Van Buren County
through involvement with state and national professional organizations. In fact, Bielang is past president of both the
Michigan Association of School Administrators and of the American Association of School
Administrators.

"Those opportunities have given me a much broader
perspective" of education beyond Paw Paw Public Schools, Bielang said.

Bielang said he decided to apply for the Portage job after
he was contacted by the district's search consultant.

"I really wasn't looking for a job, but (the search
consultant) was able to convince me" to
apply, Bielang said. "I think I have a skills set that might benefit Portage."

Mark Bielang

Age: 60

Present position: Superintendent of Paw Paw Public Schools since 1995.

District enrollment: 2,300.

Base salary: $129,723.

Previous position: Was Ionia High School principal.

Education:
Graduate of Bangor High School. Bachelor's and master's in education
from Western Michigan University and certification in educational
administration from Central Michigan University.